DARREN Bravo’s stylish 136 failed to save West Indies from a heavy defeat as India completed a series-clinching victory eight minutes before tea on the fourth day of the second Test at Eden Gardens today.
Paceman Umesh Yadav took four wickets while Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin added two apiece as the hosts dismissed the tourists for 463 to win the match by an innings and 15 runs, and claim an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
The second innings total came in stark contrast to the tourists’ meek surrender in the first, when they were skittled out for just 153 in response to India’s 631-7 declared and asked to follow-on.
Left-hander Bravo recorded his second Test hundred with some positive strokeplay and carried the West Indies close to India’s total with a 132-run stand for the fifth wicket alongside Marlon Samuels (84) before the tail capitulated.
The 22-year old batsman had earlier added 108 runs for the fourth wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (47), who chopped Yadav onto his stumps four overs after the new ball was taken in the morning.
Bravo survived an easy run-out chance on 54 and a strong bat-pad catch appeal on 119 before he edged left-arm spinner Ojha to lone slip Rahul Dravid as his departure instigated a dramatic collapse.
The left-hander hit 16 fours and four sixes in his innings, reaching three-figure with two boundaries in one Yadav over, the first an elegant cover drive and the second a late steer to third man.
The batsman, whose first Test ton came against Bangladesh last month, ran down the pitch with his bat and helmet raised to celebrate the milestone as a sparse crowd at Eden Gardens applauded his feat.
After Bravo’s dismissal, the final six wickets fell for 62 runs. The spinners claimed four of the victims, while paceman Yadav dismissed the last two in consecutive deliveries.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy briefly raised his team’s hopes of making India bat again with a 32-run cameo, during which he hit one four and three huge sixes, but was cleaned up by Yadav while attempting another extravagant swipe.
Samuels, who started off with three streaky boundaries, grew in confidence as he spent time at the crease and hit 13 fours and a six before he was out lbw to off-spinner Ashwin.
India started the day with their spinners in attack but found no help from a low and slow track, prompting captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to opt to take the second new ball as soon as it became available.
Yadav responded well by picking up Chanderpaul with his second over with the new ball to earn India’s only success in the morning session.
The third and final Test starts in Mumbai on Tuesday (November 22).
